Background:

Remains of a
large Byzantine
village on the north bank of the upper BethHaemek creek. The site is
identified in Crusaders lists as "Gastina Mahuz", based on the
Arabic name. The site was renamed in Hebrew maps to "Mehoz" or "Mahoz"
which means "district".

During the
spring
time (March/April) this site is highly recommended for a short
visit, with a easy access close to the road of Tefen. The wild
flowers and the blossom of the cherry and almond trees is an
intoxicating experience.

Location and Aerial map:

The site of Khirbet Mehoz is
located near the brook called Beit Haemek ("house of the valley"),
which flows down to the Mediterranean sea near
Shavey Zion. A junction of the modern
road (#854) to Ma'alot, Kishor and Carmiel is located nearby. About
200M to the north is another site - Khirbet Heshek.

You can
point on the purple
points to navigate to the selected section.

History:

During the Hellenistic period, the
area was the western border of the Hasmonean Kingdom. A fortress was built
nearby on the other side of the Beit Haemek brook (Khirbet Tefen).

The site was first established in the Roman
period, and grew during the Byzantine period (4th-7th C AD). It was
a farmers village who grew olive trees and bred sheep and goats.

As most of the western upper Galilee
villages, this was a Christian
village. Two churches were unearthed here and in the nearby village,
Khirbet Heshek.

Following the Persian and Arab conquests
(7th C AD) the village was destroyed. It was still in ruins in the Crusaders period
and listed in their archives as a ruined site (Gastina) known as "Gastina
Mahuz".

During the Ottoman period some of the houses
were rebuilt over the Byzantine ruins, reusing their stones. These structures are still standing today but in
a bad state.

Photos

(a) Aerial View

An aerial view from the south
side of Mehoz was captured by our quad
copter drone. The ruins are located on the top of the hill. Along the
foothills are terraces planted with olive and almond trees.

Click on the photos to view in higher
resolution...

(b) Entrance Road

The road to the site is seen below.
The ruins of the village are located on the hillside which is seen
in the center of the background.

You can park near the main road
and climb up the hill, and after 200-300M reach the ruins of the
ancient site.

After a short climb you can see a
high concentration of the ceramic shreds that are scattered around
the site. Behind is a hole of one of the cisterns.

(c) Reservoir

On the south side of the site
is an area with a 20m2 water reservoir and number of structures.

There are steps that descend down to the
bottom of the reservoir.

(d) Church

Near the pool are a number of
arched structures. These structures were in use during the Ottoman
period, and were built over Byzantine period ruins.

A Byzantine church with a mosaic floor was
found under the ruins of the Ottoman period structure.

The entrance to one of the arched rooms is seen
in the photo below.

A view of the arched room is seen below.

An interesting carved-in stone lies near the
structure, and may have been part of the church.

(e) Structure 1

To the north-east of the reservoir are the remains of
other structures, such as seen below.

A closer view of one of the structures.

(f) Structure 2

Further north up the hill are other remains
of Ottoman period structures and walls, also built over Byzantine period
ruins.

A closer view of the arched
rooms. The boy was visiting the site with his family, who came
for a picnic during a sunny spring afternoon. This is a great place
to spend the weekend. Just keep an eye on the children - there are
open cisterns around.

A view from the roof of the structure to the
south.

Yet another view of the structures.

(g) Sheepfold

An Ottoman period sheepfold is located on
the eastern side of the site, where more ruins are scattered around.

(h) Nature photos

The following nature photos are sample of
the flowers and trees around the site.

The pink flowers above are
called "Ricotia Brassicaceae" ("Carmelite Na-ah"). They are named as
such since the delicate flowers, which grow among the rocks in most
of the Galilee and near the
Carmelite monastery, are cross-shaped and resemble
Carmelite crosses.

Olive trees and wild flowers are seen below.

There are also the red and purple Kalanit
flowers (anemone flower). The rare Nazareth Iris also flowers here.

Gastina -
ruined settlement in Latin. In the Crusaders accords the site was
named Gastina Mahuz.

Mehoz/Mahoz/Machoz
- Hebrew: district. In
the Bible the word it appears in Psalms 107 30 (was translated to
"haven" in KJV: "Then are
they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their
desired haven").

Beit-Haemek:
Hebrew: "House of the Valley". This brook crosses the west upper
Galilee, and flows to the Mediterranean sea near
Shavey Zion. Biblical reference:
the eastern border of the tribe of Asher (Joshua
19 27): "...toward the north side of Bethemek".